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MSD chair goes to Cyndi Caudill

A divided Metropolitan Sewer District board has elected certified public accountant Cyndi Caudill as its next leader.

Caudill was not the recommendation from the board's nominating committee, which voted 2-1 in favor of elevating businessman Tom Austin from vice chairman to chairman. That nominating committee included board members Joyce Horton Mott, Yvone Wells and outgoing Chairman James Craig.

Craig came back for one final meeting on Monday, and called for any other nominations. Mott put Caudill's name in play, and after two quick voice votes, Craig called it for Caudill, saying it was an 5-3 vote. Since there was no roll call, I don't have a final tally.

Caudill was brought onto the MSD board in March 2012 after a scathing state audit had found a previous board failed proper oversight of spending and finances.

She is a vice president at Harding, Shymanski & Co. and has served as treasurer of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, the Kentucky 15th District of the PTA and the Pleasure Ridge Park High School Parent Teacher Student Association.

At the time of her appointment, she told she would bring experience "working with boards and financial statements" to MSD.

I did not expect to see Craig there, since he previously announced he'd be gone from the board by now. But he said MSDs attorney determined he should stay until a new chair was chosen. He did, and walked out.

"I will do my best to lead us down the right road," said Caudill, a Democrat, whose MSD district mirrors State Senate District 38, which covers a broad stretch of south Louisville.

Her first order of business will be trying to resolve a nasty labor dispute, one that saw Craig last week tweeting his disappointment in the board's unwillingness to compromise with the union on a key point, after the union had compromised.